Meaning
The passage of dark, tarry stools containing blood, a result of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
Etymology
Origin: Latin
From New Latin melaena, based on Ancient Greek μέλαινα (mélaina, “black”).
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
No published puzzle dates on file for this word yet. It is part of the official NYT Spelling Bee word list for 2019, 2023, 2025, 2026.